Subscriber Content Preview

For Full Access:

Kirby, Savona hat trick's leads Massapequa

by James Crepea
on
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 10:17 AM

Updated Thu, Apr 12, 2012 4:02 PM

Photo by Photo by James Escher

With its league open for the taking, Massapequa made an early-season statement Tuesday morning.

Ian Kirby had three goals and four assists, Brandon Savona had three goals and an assist and Joe Danaher made nine saves as Massapequa held Wantagh to a season low in goals in a 13-8, non-league boys lacrosse victory at Field of Dreams in Massapequa.

Making Kirby's offensive day more impressive was it came against a Wantagh squad that had allowed nine goals in four previous games.

"I'm not thinking about if it's a good team or a bad team," Kirby said. "Whoever's on me is on me and I take it, no matter what."

Wantagh (4-1) took a 3-2 lead with 5:28 to go in the first quarter, thanks to a pair of early man-advantage opportunities. Massapequa (4-1) responded with a 3-0 run, capped off by a Kirby goal with 28.8 seconds left in the first.

The teams each scored three in the second quarter as Massapequa took an 8-6 lead into halftime but the scoreboard did not tell the whole story.

The Chiefs scored four man-up goals in the first half and added another in the third quarter to go 5-for-5 on the man advantage in the first 27:23.

"It was a little back-and-forth with the penalties but we were able to capitalize on our man-up," Massapequa coach Tim Radomski said. "That was a key for us scoring goals because we didn't get too many settled goals. We needed the man-up to put us up by a couple."

The Chiefs put the game away with a 3-0 third quarter to go up 11-6. Matt Balzano scored a pair of goals to cut the gap to 11-8 with 8:32 left but Wantagh could not get any closer.

The victory serves as an early-season signature win for the Chiefs, who lost their season-opener to Chaminade, 10-9, in overtime.

"It says that we can play against anyone in the league," Kirby said. "We're not scared of anyone. We're ready for whatever comes at us, no matter who it is."